Effort launched to keep water in Webb Lake

Longtime Rancho Bernardo resident and community leader Scott Lawn is leading an effort to save Webb Lake after its owners said they might remove it in response to the drought.

“There is not remotely as beautiful a Rancho Bernardo spot (as Webb Lake),” Lawn said about why he wants to save it. “It has emotional attachment for people.”

Lawn is trying to raise $75,000 — an amount based on three estimates — so a well can be installed. Well water would fill the lake and later irrigate Webb Park. On Monday evening, an online fundraising account went live. By Tuesday morning it had $725 raised, $500 of which came from Lawn. The site is GoFundMe.com/SaveWebbLake.

The lake is in Webb Park, owned by the Bernardo Town Center Property Owners Association. Even though privately-owned, the park is home to the Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial and Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation’s Pathway of Pride, and venue for many community events including the RB Alive! Expo and Spirit of the Fourth festivities.

The park was built in the 1970s behind downtown Rancho Bernardo businesses that line the west side of Bernardo Center Drive, roughly covering 4 1/3 acres, which includes the 30,000 square foot surface area man-made lake.

In response to the four-year drought, the BTCPOA board is considering ways to reduce the park’s water usage. BTCPOA president Ron Bamberger said potable water from the city’s system is used to fill the lake. After it picks up nutrients from the lake’s plant matter, fish and other inhabitants, lake water is recirculated to irrigate the park.

Last month Bamberger confirmed to the Rancho Bernardo News Journal that the board is considering drought-tolerant landscaping for the park. This could include removing the lake. To date, no decision has been made, according to Bamberger.

Lawn said he had heard rumors of the lake’s potential removal and after reading the July 16 newspaper article decided to act. He is a 29-year RB resident, former RB honorary mayor, and current president of the Rancho Bernardo Business Association and vice president of the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation. His efforts regarding Webb Lake are independent of these organizations, though Lawn said he plans on approaching their members for donations.

“Dozens of community leaders feel passionate about this and would like to help raise money to keep this community treasure alive,” he said.

Lawn went to this month’s BTCPOA board meeting to learn more about the issue, propose pursuing installation of a well instead of removing the lake, and volunteer himself as leader of a fundraising effort to save the lake.

At the meeting, Lawn said he learned the association’s annual water costs are around $50,000 for the park and the lake uses about 8 million gallons of water per year. Lawn — who is in the landscape irrigation business — said the current system of watering the park’s grass with lake water is wise and makes his well idea even more feasible.

After getting estimates from three companies that have installed wells in Rancho Bernardo — including three at the Oaks North Golf Course and several at homes in The Trails neighborhood — $75,000 is a reasonable estimate for a well that would require drilling 800 to 1,200 feet down. A small well pump — that could be camouflaged by vegetation — would automatically obtain water for the lake on an as-needed basis based on water level. The water would be transported to the lake via an underground pipe.

Lawn said well company representatives told him the association’s irrigation costs could end up being 10 percent of its current costs. They said a well is feasible based on their previous work, noting the “success rate in Rancho Bernardo is tremendous.”

The BTCPOA board will meet again on Sept. 9. Lawn said he plans on giving an update on fundraising and other details.

Lawn said if the board decides to remove the lake, or if not enough money is raised to install a well, the donated money will be returned to contributors. If a well is built and donations exceed the cost, a decision will be made on how to spend the remainder in the community.

Bamberger said Lawn is “a community-minded guy” and his passion for the lake is apparent. “I think well of him,” Bamberger added.

He said the board is willing to have Lawn explore his well proposal and expects to have an ongoing discussion. Bamberger added that if the final decision is to remove the lake it would be done “with great reluctance.”

Lawn said he would like people to share the fundraising site link on their social media. If anyone would like to help him with fundraising, he can be reached at greenway1@sbcglobal.net or 858-486-8277.